_BLESSED IS HE WHOSE TRANSGRESSION IS FORGIVEN, WHOSE SIN IS COVERED._ The Title, "Maschil," is explained by the Hebrew cognate verb (Psalms 32:8), "I will INSTRUCT thee" ['askiylkaa]. Compare Psalms 47:7, "with understanding" (the same Hebrew), Proverbs 21:11; especially Psalms 53:1, where, as here... [ Continue Reading ]
_BLESSED IS THE MAN UNTO WHOM THE LORD IMPUTETH NOT INIQUITY, AND IN WHOSE SPIRIT THERE IS NO GUILE._ Blessed ... imputeth not iniquity. Compare on the phrase 'impute (i:e., set down to the transgressor's account his) iniquity,' 2 Samuel 19:19. Paul (Romans 4:1) quotes this passage as proving the d... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHEN I KEPT SILENCE, MY BONES WAXED OLD THROUGH MY ROARING ALL THE DAY LONG._ Here begins the main body of the psalm, detailing from his own case the grounds why the guilelessly-confessing and consequently forgiven sinner is to be regarded as "blessed" (Psalms 32:1). I KEPT SILENCE (in contrast t... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR DAY AND NIGHT THY HAND WAS HEAVY UPON ME: MY MOISTURE IS TURNED INTO THE DROUGHT OF SUMMER. SELAH._ Thy hand was heavy - (1 Samuel 5:6; 1 Samuel 5:11; Job 13:21.) MY MOISTURE ... - rather, 'my (vital) moisture was changed (from vigour to utter prostration, cf. Daniel 7:28; Daniel 10:8; Daniel... [ Continue Reading ]
_I ACKNOWLEDGED MY SIN UNTO THEE, AND MINE INIQUITY HAVE I NOT HID. I SAID, I WILL CONFESS MY TRANSGRESSIONS UNTO THE LORD; AND THOU FORGAVEST THE INIQUITY OF MY SIN. SELAH._ My sin - (2 Samuel 12:13.) NOT HID - or "covered;" the same Hebrew as in Psalms 32:1. He only has his sins covered who doe... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR THIS SHALL EVERY ONE THAT IS GODLY PRAY UNTO THEE IN A TIME WHEN THOU MAYEST BE FOUND: SURELY IN THE FLOODS OF GREAT WATERS THEY SHALL NOT COME NIGH UNTO HIM._ For this ... a time ... be found - while the day of grace lasts (Deuteronomy 4:29; Isaiah 55:6). "For this" - because in my case forgi... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU ART MY HIDING PLACE; THOU SHALT PRESERVE ME FROM TROUBLE; THOU SHALT COMPASS ME ABOUT WITH SONGS OF DELIVERANCE. SELAH._ Thou ... trouble. There is a play on similar sounds in the Hebrew _ MITSAR_ (H6862), _ TITSREENIY_ (H5341), implying that trouble ceases to be trouble when God is our prese... [ Continue Reading ]
_I WILL INSTRUCT THEE AND TEACH THEE IN THE WAY WHICH THOU SHALT GO: I WILL GUIDE THEE WITH MINE EYE._... [ Continue Reading ]
_MANY SORROWS SHALL BE TO THE WICKED: BUT HE THAT TRUSTETH IN THE LORD, MERCY SHALL COMPASS HIM ABOUT._ The conclusion. The sorrows awaiting the wicked, and the joy awaiting the righteous. MANY SORROWS (SHALL BE) TO THE WICKED. "The wicked" here are not only the open transgressors, but all the un... [ Continue Reading ]